Vessel-trimmer



N0. 627,2l7. Pflten'ted lune 20, |899. R. THEW.

VESSEL TRIMMER.

(Application tiled Jan. 29, 1897.)`

No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet l.

Lyk

1m: wams PETERS co. PHoTo-Lvmo. wAsmNs'roN. n. c

(No Model.)

R. THEW.

vl-:ssEL Tmrmxm.l

(Application filed Jan. 29, 1897.)-

Patented luhe 20, |899.

PF' Ja ,17,13

PEWJZ,

JM] sr Tu: ohms PETERS co.. mm-ammo, vmsnlmrn'ou4 o. c.

, 5 Sheets-Shock 2.

No. 627.217. 4 Patented June 20,1899. R. THEW.

VESSEL v'I'BIMME RY..-

(Application led Jan 29, 1697.) v LNU Model.) 5 SheeS-Shei 3.

1u: nomas Ferns co. mouw-w., wAsmnaYoN o. c.

No. 627,2l7. Pafentea :une 2o, |899.

H. THEW.

VESSEL TRIMMER.

(Applicationl led Jan. 29, 1897.)

5 Sheets-$heei 4` (No Model.)

'mz wams #Preis co, vHofau'rno.. WASHINGTON. n, c.

No. 627,217. l Patented lune 20, |899. R. THEW.

VESSEL TRIMMER.

(Application led Jan. 29, 1897.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-She'et 5.

N flwenol? ma m,

NITED STATES PATENT RICHARD THEW, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

VESSEL-TRllVllVIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,217, dai-,ed June20, 1899.

Application filed January 29, 1897. Serial No. 621,206. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.'

Beit known that I, RICHARD THEw, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and. useful Improvements i11Vessel-'I`ri1nmers; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In loading vessels with ore, coal, and other loose material it iscustomary to dump the load through the hatehways, beneath which itaccumulates in heaps. These heaps must be leveled and spread evenly inthe hold.

The Object of my invention is to provide an apparatus which shall be apart of the permanent equipment of the vessel, wherewith the load may becheaply and quicklyleveled or, as it is called, trimmed A vesselequipped with my apparatus may leave the dock as soon as the load is inand be trimmed while under way-a great saving in time. i

The invention consists in the construction and combination of partshereinafter de-,

scribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan View of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is aside elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation on line 3 3of Fig. l. Fig. 4 isa sectional View on line 4 4t of Fig.` l. Fig. 5 isa left end view, Fig. l, of the trolley-supports. Fig. 6 is a sectionalView on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an end view of the trolley. Fig. 8is a side View of the same. Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view of themechanism for supporting the free end of the screw. Fig. l0 is asectional end View of the same parts on line 10 10 of Fig. 9. Fig. l1 isan enlarged sectional view on line 1l l1 of Fig. 9. Figs. l2 and 13 aredetailed views, being. side and end elevations, respectively, of theelectric switch for controlling the mechanism, this switch being shownin plan in Fig. 1. Fig. let is a are adapted to ride upon tracks 32,which are supported at the proper elevation in the hold of a vessel. Ihave shown in Fig. 14 these tracks as carried by the beams 32a, whichare supported by posts 32" and braced by crossbeams 32C. If desired, twoof the trimmers may be supported side by side. Upon this carriage issecured a circular rack lC and a depending cylindrical ring 1d, which isconcentric With rack le. Secured to the outer surface of this ring isan. annular flanged ring le, the horizontal part If of which serves asthe support for the rotating member 2. This member 2 consists, partly,of a ringshaped part 2, having an inwardly-turned horizontal flange 21.This flange lies above the iiange lf and rides upon a series of balls 2,which roll upon the iiange 1f. Two parallel beams 2l 2d are secured tothe lower edge of the part 2a, these beams serving as the guide orsupportfor the scraper-carrying trolley 3. A cage or platform 25 for theoperator is suspended from the rotating member 2.

The various parts of the apparatus are operated independently by meansof a motor 5, supported upon the rotating member 2, and connectingmechanism', which I will now describe. This mechanism is under thecontrol of an operator upon the platform 25.

The motor shown is an electric motor, and upon opposite ends of themotor-shaft are the two be vel-gears 5f 5'b,which respectively mesh withthe two bevel'gears 4u 7 on the two shafts 4L and 7. These shafts aremounted in suitable bearings upon the rotating member.` The shaft 4 is ashort shaft, and motion is transmitted from it to a longer shaft (i bymeans of the two gears 4" 6b, which are secured, respectively, to saidtwo shafts. The shafts G and 7 are revolved constantly so long as themotoris in operation.

Motion is transmitted from the shaft 7 to the traction-wheels ln ofcarriage l for the purpose of causing said carriage to move in eitherdirection by the instrumentalities, as follows: The two traction-WheelsI lfL are secured to the axle lt, upon which is secureda gear ll. Thisgear meshes with a gear 1P, mounted on short shaft It', to which also issecured the bevel-gear 1h. A bevel-gear Il, secured to shaft lk, mesheswith bevel-gear l, and another bevel-gear l1, secured to IOC meshes withthe bevel-gear 9b, secured to the horizontal shaft 9, which shaft isalso mounted in the bracket 2. A bevel-gear 9l is also secured to theshaft 9. This bevel-gear is in mesh with two bevel-gears 7b 7 c, whichgears are loosely mounted upon the shaft 7 on opposite sides of the axisof shaft 9. Clutches 7d 7e are provided for respectively securing thetwo bevel-gears 7b7c to the shaft 7. The particular construction ofthese clutches is not essential to the invention, and therefore noeffort has been made to do more than to indicate the position of saidclutches upon shaft 7. The levers 7f 7g are provided for respectively throwing said clutches 7l 7e into and out of action. a link 7, wherebyboth levers must be moved at the same time. A vertical lever 7J' formoving link 7k is pivoted tothe bar 2f, which forms a part of therotating member 2. This lever is placed in a-position where it may beoperated by a person upon the cage 25. When the lever 7J' is moved inone direction, the bevel-gear 71 is connected with the shaft 7 by meansof the clutch 7d, while at the same time the clutch 7c is thrown out ofaction and the bevel-gear 7c is permitted to revolve freely upon shaft7. WVhen the lever 7j is moved in the opposite direction far enough, thebevellgear 7C is connected with shaft 7, while the bevel-gear 7 ispermitted to run idly thereon. When the bevel-gear 7" is connected withshaft 7, the shaft 9 is rotated in one direction, and the motion istransmitted through the mechanism described to the axle 1*', with theresult that the carriage is caused to traverse the tracks in onedirection. When the bevelgear 7c is connected with the shaft 7, theshaft 9 is revolved in the reverse direction, and this motion beingtransmitted by the same `mechanism to aXle 1t causes the carriage tomove in the contrary direction.

Mounted in suitable bearings upon the rotating member is a verticalshaft 10, having upon its upper end a pinion 10, which engages with thecircular rack 1c. On the lower end of this shaft 10 is secured abevel-gear 10b, which engages on both sides of its axis with twobevel-gears (iC (if, which are loosely mounted upon the shaft 6.Clutches Gfg C are provided for respectively connecting thesebevel-gears 6e (if with shaft (5. When Vone of the gears-say (5e-isconnected with said shaft by the clutch, the vertical shaft 104 isrevolved in one direction, and it, by :its engagement with the circularrack 1c, causes These levers are connected by' the rotating member toturn upon its axis in one direction. When the bevelgear (if is connectedwith shaft 6, the shaft 10 reverses its direction of movement, andthereby the rotating member 2 is caused to turn in the oppositedirection. The two clutches 6g 6h are respectively operated by twohorizontal levers Gl 6k. These levers are connected with each other bythe link 6"", and these levers are also connected with a verticaloperating-lever 6, placed within easy reach of the operator upon thecage by means of the following instrumentalities, viz: a horizontallever (3", which is pivoted to the rotating member, a link 61., whichconnects one end of said lever with the lever 6J', and 'a link 6r, whichconnects the other end of lever i GP with a lever 6.

The movable carriage or trolley 3 is caused to move backward and forwardupon its supports between the beams 2d 2L1 by means of a feed-screw l2,which is mounted at one end in the cross-beam 2h, which extends betweenand is connected to the two beams 2d 21. This screw passes through athreaded box 3,

which is secured to the trolley, and the other end of said screw isnormally supported upon two swinging arms 13, the construction andoperation of which will be presently explained.

Motion is transmitted from shaft 6 to the screw 12 by the followinginstrumentalities: A short stud 1-1 is secured to one of the beams 2, Onit is loosely mounted the two rigidlyconnected bevel-gears 14 le". Twobevelgears 616" are loosely mounted upon shaft G and are always inengagement with the bevelgear 14a on opposite sides of its axis. Twoclutches 6 6c are adapted to respectively connect the two gears (5 GV toshaft 6, with the result of causing the gear 14: to revolve in onedirection or the other. These clutches are respectively operated by thelevers Gz GY, which levers are connected by a link GW, so that both willoperate simultaneously. The lever GY is connected by a link 6d with thelever 16, which is pivoted to the rotating member. This lever isconnected by the link 16a with a vertical leverlG", which is placedconvenient to the operator upon the cage. A short shaft 26 is mounted inbearings upon the rotating member. Securedto its ends are the twobevel-gears 2G:L 26C, which respectively mesh with the gears 14D and17a. This gear 17 is secured to a shaft 17, and motion is transmittedfrom it to theV feed screw by means of the two gears 17b and 12b,secured, respectively, to said shaft and feed-screw,and the intermediategear 12, which isv mounted upon av stud 12C, secured to the cross-beam2h.

By operating the vertical lever 1Gb Veither of.

l2d in one direction or the other, asdesired.

The trolley projects below'the beams 2d a considerable distance, and toits lower end is piv- ICE oted a frame 18a, to the other' end of whichframe the hoe or scraper 18 is secured at approximately right angles tosaid frame. Secured to the frame 13rb is a segmental rack 18h, whichengages with a pinion 19", secured to a short shaft 19, which is mountedon the trolley. A toothed wheel 19n is likewise secured to the shaft,and a latch 20 is provided for engaging with this toothed wheel for thepurpose of preventing the rotation of shaft 19, and consequently ofpreventing any vertical movement of the hoe or scraper.

As the trolley is caused to move forward for the purpose of leveling thepile of ore or other material the scraper strikes the pile and will beautomatically raised by it more or less, and when the scraper has beensuiiiciently elevated for this purpose the shaft l 9 is locked by meansof a latch 20, which is operated by the following mechanism: This latchis a sliding block mounted in a groove 2O:L on the side of the trolley.On the outer side are two laterally-projecting fingers 20C 20, (shown indotted lines in Figs. 7 and 8,) between which a spiral cam 21LL passes.This spiral cam'is journaled in a bearing 21h, secured to the side ofthe trolley, and has extending through it axially a square hole, throughwhich a square rock-shaft 21loosely passes.. An oscillation of thisrock-shaft therefore oscillates the spiral cam and causes the latch toengage or release the toothed wheel 192, while the cam is compelled totravel with the trolley. The rock-shaft 21 is mounted in the dependingbrackets 23 and 23a, which are secured to one of the beams 2l. At oneend of this rockshatt is secured the gear 21,.which meshes with the gear21d on a rock-shaft 21e, journaled in the bracket 23a and in the bracket21f, extending from the said beam 21d. A handle 21g depends from thisshaft within reach of the operator in the cage, and by an oscillation ofthis handle he may cause the engagement or disengagement of the latch20.

As before stated, the free end of the feedscrew is normally sustained bytwo horizontal arms 13, which are pivoted to brackets which are securedto the beams 2d. These arms are subject to the action of springs 13,coiled upon the pivot-rods of the arms, which springs act to throw theends of the arms toward each other into the position shown in Fig. 9, inwhich position theyare held by the latch-bolts 22, which are pressedtoward said arms by the springs 22 and engage with shoulders formed bythe segmental bosses 13b on said arms. Each latch is withdrawn by meansof a bell-crank lever 13m, pivoted to one of said beams 2d. The outerend 13p of this lever is slotted and embraces a pin 131, which projectsfrom the latch. The inner ends 13u of the bell-cranks extend into thepath of the trolley. Vhen the trolley moving toward said arms nearlyreaches them, it engages with these inner ends 13n of the bellcranklevers, 4pushing them forward, and

thereby withdrawing the latch-bolts. rllhe further movement of thetrolley causes it to strike said arms, which are swung back out of itsway by the trolley itself and are held open by the latch=bolts, whichengage with the opposite sides ot' the segmental bosses 13b. The trolleyis therefore able to travel some distance beyond the end of the beams2d, the space between these beams being unobstructed atlthe scraper end.In this manner I secure a larger range of scraper travel for a givenlength ot' supporting-beams 2d than would be possible if the end of thescrew 13 were journaled in a stationary bearing carried by those beams.The trolleyitself easily supports the screw when the arms 13 are open;but without those arms there would be too much overhang to the screwwhen the trolley is at the other end of its travel. When the trolley,returning from its extreme forward movement, has moved back of the openarms 13, it strikes the projecting ends 13n of the bell-crank levers,and thereby withdraws the latch-bolts 22, and the arms are returned bytheir springs 13a to the closed position and `become securely lockedtherein bythe latchbolts, which return into engagement with the othershoulder of the bosses 13b when the trolley has passed.

The ring 1e has, in addition to the external flange 1f, an internalflange lz, in which are formed the vertical holes 1r. Averticallymovable latch 21 is mounted on the rotating member and isadapted to enter any one of these holes, and thus to check the rotationof said member. This latch is moved vertically by means of a rock-shaft27, mounted on the side of one of the beams 2, having anoperating-handle 27 within easy reach of the operator upon the'cage.Upon its other end is a crank-arm, which is connected by means of a linkwith said latch-pin.

The current for operating the motor is conducted to and from the motorand generator by the two conductors 23 29, which are suspended at theproper elevation above the carriage and parallel to the tracks. Twotrolleyarms 2S and 29 are pivoted on horizontal pivots to the carriage,and the upper ends of said trolley-arms are held in contact with therespective conductors by the weights 28b 29".

An insulated ring 30, having two annular contact-strips 301L 30b on itsunder side, is suspended concentricallywith the rotating member, beingsecured to the cross-bar lo. Contact-brushes 31a 31h, carried by therotating member 2, severally contact with said strips. Thesecontact-brushes are electrically connected with opposite ends of themotor, while the two contact-strips are respectively connected with thetwo trolleys. These connec- IOO IIO

IIS

tions are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 13. A

Having described my invention, I claim-e 1. In a freight-boat, thecombination of a longitudinal rail or way in the hold, a movablecarriage or trolley, and a scraper thereon carried by and hinged to thetrolley to permit of a vertically-swinging adjustment,

vsubstantially as described.

2. In a freight-boat, the combination of a longitudinal rail or way inthe hold, a movable carriage or trolley, anda pivoted arm carrying ahoeor scraper and capable of a vertically-swinging adjustment and suitablysupported by said trolley, substantially as described. p

3.I In a vessel-trimmer, the combination of a frame, guides or waysdependingr from the frame, amovable carriage or trolley, a scrapercarried by the movable carriage or trolley and vertically adjustable,means for moving the frame back and forth and means for movingindependently back and forth the movable carriage or trolley,substantially as described. 4. In a vessel-trimmer, the combination ofelevated tracks, a traction-carriage mounted thereon, 4a horizontalrotatable member mounted upon but depending below the carriage, saidmember having horizontal trolleyguides, a trolley movable upon saidguides, and a scraper carried by said trolley, with a motor, andmechanism operated by the motor for independently moving the carriage,rotatable member and trolley, substantially as and for the purposespecified. f 5. In a vessel-trimmer, the combination of elevated tracks,a traction-carriage mounted thereon, a horizontal rotatable membermounted upon the carriage, said member having depending horizontaltrolley-guides, a trolley movable upon said guides, an adj us'tablescraper carried by'the trolley, and locking mechanism therefor, with` amotor carried by the rotatable member, an axial vertical shaft `mountedupon said member, power-trans- Y with the motor and with thetraction-wheels of the carriage, and power-transmitting mechanismsconnected with the motor for moving 4the trolley, and turning therotatable memthe carriage, antifriction-balls between said two iianges,a. motor on the rotatable member, a vertical shaft mounted upon saidmember and having secured to it a pinion which engages with said rack,and transmitting mechanism intermediate ofthe motor and shaft,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

'7. In a vessel-trimmer, the combination of elevated tracks, atraction-carriage thereon, aring-secured thereto having an annular hori-.zontal track-flange, and a second annular flange w-hich is perforated,with a rotatable member supported upon said annular trackange, avertical locking-bolt carried by said member and adapted to engage insaid peryble member and trolley, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

8. In a vessel-trimmer, the combination of =a traction-carriage adaptedto ride upon elevated tracks, a rotatable member supported by buthanging below said carriage, a motor mounted upon said member, a'shaftdriven by said motor, two. bevel-gears loosely mounted upon said shaft,clutches for connecting *said gears to the shaft, a shaft mounted uponthe rotatable member having at its end a :bevel-gear whicnfmeshes withboth of the bevel-gears above named, an axially-placed zvertical shaftmounted upon the rotatable member, bevelgears connecting the two shaftslast named, and power-transmitting `'mechanism connecting said verticalshaft `with the traction-wheels of the carriage, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

'9. In a vessel-trim mer, the combination of -a traction-carriageadapted to ride upon elevated tracks and having a circular rack, arotatable member supported, concentrically Vwith said rack, upon buthanging below said carriage, a motor mounted upon said rotatable member,a shaft driven from said motor,

two bevel-gears loosely mounted upon said shaft, clutchesgforconnectingsaid bevel- :gears severally to the shaft, a vertical shaft`mounted on the'rotatable member having at its end a pinion whichengages with said circular rack, and having at the other end abevel-gear which engages with both of the bevel-gears first named,substantially as and Lfor the purpose specified.

lO. In a vessel-trimmer, the combination of -fa traction-carriageadapted to ride on elevated tracks, a rotatable member supported by buthanging below said carriage, trolley-guides, a trolley mounted in saidguides, a feed-screw `mounted upon the rotatable member and eX- `tendingthrough a threaded box which is secured to the trolley, andpower-transmission `mechanism intermediate of said motor and`feed-screw, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ll. In a vessel-trimmer, the combination of a traction-carriage adaptedtoride on elevated tracks, a rotatable member supported by but vhangingbelow said carriage, parallel hori- IOI Iog

12. The combination of elevated tracks, a traction-carriage, adapted totravel thereon, a circular rack secured to said carriage, a rotatablemember `mounted upon said carriage, a motor, two constantly-rotatinghorizontal shafts connected with said motor, an axial vertical shaft,mechanism connecting one of said shafts with the vertical shaft, avertical shaft having a pinion which engages with the circular rack, allof said shafts being mounted upon the rotatable member, with mechanismmounted'upon the carriage for transmitting motion from the axialvertical shaft to the traction-wheels ot' the carriage, and means fortransmitting motion to said shaft 10, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.`

13. The combination of a traction-carriage, a rotating member mountedthereon, a trolley movable upon said rotating member, and the operatingmechanism for such parts, with an approximately horizontal frame pivotedat one end to said trolley, a scraper.. secured to the other end of theframe, and an adjust able connection between said frame and 'saidtrolley, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

111. The combination of the trolley, the scraper-frame pivoted thereto,a hoe carried by said frame, a segmental rack, a pinion mounted on thetrolley engaging with said rack, and a lock for said pinion,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

15. Inavessel-trimmer, the combination of a traction-carriage, arotatable member supported thereby, two horizontal trolley-guidessecured to said rotatable member, a trolley ed to slide upon said shaftbut incapable of independent revolution, and a sliding latch forengaging the said pinion, which latch is operated by said spiral cam,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

16. In a vessel-trimmer, the combination of a traction-carriage adaptedto ride on elevated tracks, a rotatable member supported by but hangingbelow said carriage, an electric motor mounted upon said rotatablemember, a fixed cross-beam secured to the carriage, annularcontact-strips secured to said fixed cross-beam, contact-ngers carriedby the rotatable member respectively connected with opposite ends of themotor, and `held in contact with said annular contact-strips, twoparallel conductor-wires, trolley-arms carried by the carriage forengagement with said wires, and electrical connections between saidtrolley-arms and the two annular contact-strips, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

4BICI-IARD THE W.

